Loose dog, numpty owner, pity...

[Baph]

Bit of an idle post really, but I know there's some dog lovers on the .Org. :)

I went to pick up the wee man from school this morning, and as usual, sat in the car waiting.

Whilst I'm sat there, idly looking around for what's going on (not much as I live in a pretty rural area), I see a pretty large rottweiler wander past the school gates (driveway gates). EDIT: On re-reading this, I realise I should make it clear at this point that the rotty is by itself, no owner to be seen.

The rotty paused, looked around, and continued on it's walk.

I considered finding the copper that was in school (cop car parked near mine), but figured that probably wouldn't be a great idea. Even if I did find the copper, the dog would probably be gone & then there'd be a massive hunt for this "dangerous" dog on the loose.

So I got out the car & walked to the other gates, knowing the dog was about to pass there (I grew up around large dogs so have always felt comfortable - I'm not in any way suggesting someone else do this). Bent down showing the dog I meant no harm, gave it a bit of a stroke & held onto it's collar pretty firmly. The dog was happy to stand there & have a stroke.

That's when the owner appeared around the corner (at this point I didn't know she was the owner of the dog, given that she was still a good 300m away from the dog).

As the owner approached, she got a little distressed that I was holding her beloved dog, and pretty much accused me of abusing/stealing the dog. All I was doing was kneeling down on the path, holding it's collar with one hand & stroking it with the other.

So before I released the dog's collar, I had a little chat about the fact she was a few hundred meters away from the dog, walking by the road. Granted she knows her dog better than I do, but just the breed walking by could scare some people. Given that the kids were just about to come out of school too, for the scare factor alone it was a tad irresponsible of her.

I thought it best not to go down the route of "what if the dog were to attack someone when you were so far away from it?" since it'd been a very well mannered & happy thing. But I did ask her how she'd feel if the dog ran out in front of a car/bus, and told her that I knew for a fact there'd be a couple of buses passing in the next few mins.

She begrudgingly clipped the lead back on & continued on her walk. I think she realised my intentions, but I'm not sure she was that happy about it.

Why do some people just not understand the real world? :lol:

[Mr Speirs]

Why do some people just not understand the real world? :lol:

Cos they don't live in it :)

[SoulKiss]

Why do some people just not understand the real world? :lol:

Because they are thoughtless and stupid and some shouldn't be let out on their own WITHOUT wearing a leash themself...........

[Gene genie]

we need more people like you in our 'look the other way' society.
you did the right thing mate.

[ophic]

Some people either just don't care or don't have the brain power to think in a considerate manner. Or some combination of both. The law normally does naff all until someone is actually hurt, regardless of how many close shaves occur beforehand. A rotty can hurt a kid without even meaning to.

Unfortunately expecting people to act responsibly is a big mistake these days.

[carlos]

Totally agree Baph.

I remember when I was in my mid-teens and lived with my parents we had a German Shepherd that hated other dogs invading its personal space, it didn't give a monkeys if they were a distance away from it but if another dog came up close then there was always trouble. I used to hate seeing other dogs off the lead, running over and the usual shout from the owners "Its alright, he/she is good with other dogs" followed by me replying "Mine isn't" as he was ripping shreds out of the other dog. Ended up buying a muzzle, which was great because people would see it and actually cross the road in fear.

[plowsie]

Dog snatcher!!!!!!

[ophic]

Totally agree Baph.

I remember when I was in my mid-teens and lived with my parents we had a German Shepherd that hated other dogs invading its personal space, it didn't give a monkeys if they were a distance away from it but if another dog came up close then there was always trouble. I used to hate seeing other dogs off the lead, running over and the usual shout from the owners "Its alright, he/she is good with other dogs" followed by me replying "Mine isn't" as he was ripping shreds out of the other dog. Ended up buying a muzzle, which was great because people would see it and actually cross the road in fear.
I get this problem, only my dog is a huge English Mastiff and a total coward. So rather than their dog being ripped to shreds, its normally me being ripped to shreds being towed through a hedge to get away from the other dog...

[Alpinestarhero]

If i see a big dog not on a lead being held appropriately by its owner, i panic. I'll turn round and go home, let alone cross the road.

I hate it when a dog runs up to me and the owner says "its ok, s/he wont bite!"

yea, cheers luv, but can't you see im sh**ing bricks here

[SoulKiss]

If i see a big dog not on a lead being held appropriately by its owner, i panic. I'll turn round and go home, let alone cross the road.

I hate it when a dog runs up to me and the owner says "its ok, s/he wont bite!"

yea, cheers luv, but can't you see im sh**ing bricks here

You'll be fine Matt - most dogs dont like s**t flavoured food :)

[madness]

I'm afraid that these days it seems that lots of people are ' in their own little world' and don't ever think about the impact their actions have on other. Good for you for doing the right thing and not ignoring it.

[Baph]

Good for you for doing the right thing and not ignoring it.

TBH, I'm not quite sure if that's how I see my actions this morning.

I got out of the car with the intentions of at least securing the dog so it couldn't wander around by itself - and hopefully finding someone that knew where it lived so it could be returned home.

At that point, I was assuming it was an escapee. The conversation with the owner was just a spur of the moment thing.

[ArtyLady]

I think the owner was quite irresponsible letting her dog walk off the lead on along a road whether it was well behaved or not!

As Alpinestarhero said he would panic and so would many other people - I think I probably would be nervous too - and I've owned dogs myself! but dogs are unpredictable - fact!

I think you did the right thing Baph :smt023

[Kate Moss]

At least you had the balls to say something! Not sure I would have done.

Bit inconsiderate letting a dog that has the public image of being a bit "scary" roam free especially infront of a school. Common sense is all it takes!

[Stingo]

I imagine that the owner was allowing the dog to be out of sight so that when it did a poo she wouldn't see it and therefore it wasn't hers to clean up, as it were, so to speak.

Anyway - thoughtless arrogant people are everywhere....:smt068

[SoulKiss]

As Alpinestarhero said he would panic and so would many other people - I think I probably would be nervous too - and I've owned dogs myself! but dogs are unpredictable - fact!

Also nothing makes a dog panic/be unpredictable like a person who is panicing....

[ArtyLady]

Also nothing makes a dog panic/be unpredictable like a person who is panicing....

Absolutely!

[timwilky]

You miserable spoilsport. The dog was having a fun time and you give yourself the power to halt it progress. It had not threatened nor was it a threat to you or anyone else.:rant:

Since when have you had the self appointed rights to do your local dog wardens job.;)

If you like the job so much, apply for it.:smt068


My little Jack Russell runs round on the fields without a lead. My son does not even own a lead for his Patterdale. The other day they had a wonderful time playing with two little kids (about 5 & 8 who ran upto them). Their parents were not bothered, the kids had no fear even when the dogs knocked them over. Granted the kids parents had two German shepherds with them.


Over protective parents instil an irrational fear of dogs in kids. Let the dogs/kids interact. Both benefit.

[carlos]

You miserable spoilsport. The dog was having a fun time and you give yourself the power to halt it progress. It had not threatened nor was it a threat to you or anyone else.:rant:

Since when have you had the self appointed rights to do your local dog wardens job.;)

If you like the job so much, apply for it.:smt068


My little Jack Russell runs round on the fields without a lead. My son does not even own a lead for his Patterdale. The other day they had a wonderful time playing with two little kids (about 5 & 8 who ran upto them. Their parents were not bothered, the kids had no dear even when the dogs knocked them over. Granted the kids parents had two German shepherds with them.


Over protective parents instill an irrational fear of dogs in kids. Let the dogs/kids interact. Both benefit.

Tim, there is a difference between a supervised Jack Russel in a field and an unsupervised Rotty wandering around outside a school.

[timwilky]

Tim, there is a difference between a supervised Jack Russel in a field and an unsupervised Rotty wandering around outside a school.


No there isn't. A dog is still a dog. I just happen to have a small one that was bred specifically for killing smaller animals.

[SoulKiss]

No there isn't. A dog is still a dog. I just happen to have a small one that was bred specifically for killing smaller animals.

Dogs in crowds SHOULD be controlled.

End of.

[dizzyblonde]

I don't walk my dogs without a lead on roads. See cat, will run, be squashed! Once on the moors they are let off and are a pair of hooligans who like to go and say hello to any dog they please...they are a bit naughty running away though, but they ae within sight.
If Bob escapes from home, I wander the streets shouting til he comes back. I would never intentionally walk them with out a lead near a road or a school. even going to school i warn the kids not to come too close as Bob and Honey love attention, but like to jump up at them for more.
I think under the circumstances I'd do exactly the same as you Baph. Before xmas the was a very young golden retriever running around school, he was loving it, but was ultimately going to get hit by a bus, as he was so happy to have escaped. I put a makeshift lead round him, and another mum took him home as he'd followed her from there. He was reunited later that day with the owner via a dog warden. He'd escaped from their garden as they'd got ready for work. BUT, they had gone to work and hoped for him to come back or something????? thought it was a tad irresponsible that way.

[missyburd]

I remember when I was in my mid-teens and lived with my parents we had a German Shepherd that hated other dogs invading its personal space, it didn't give a monkeys if they were a distance away from it but if another dog came up close then there was always trouble. I used to hate seeing other dogs off the lead, running over and the usual shout from the owners "Its alright, he/she is good with other dogs" followed by me replying "Mine isn't" as he was ripping shreds out of the other dog. Ended up buying a muzzle, which was great because people would see it and actually cross the road in fear.
EXACTLY my take on things! We ended up getting a muzzle for our hound, even though I was the only one who could get him to stick his nose in it, he hated it but it did the trick. I'd put it on as soon as I saw a dog and owner approaching (whether their dog was on the lead or not) then stop while they went past and if he was good and didn't make a sound then I'd lavish praise on him and take it off. He'd get told off if he barked though :rolleyes:

He is never let off the lead in a public place, although he's fine with children and all animals apart from dogs its really not worth the risk. (He gets a good run at 4 in the morning when noone is about instead)

You definitely did the right thing Baph, she should know better in a school area.

Tim, there is a difference between a supervised Jack Russel in a field and an unsupervised Rotty wandering around outside a school.
+1, she has no excuse IMO!

[carlos]

No there isn't. A dog is still a dog. I just happen to have a small one that was bred specifically for killing smaller animals.

Ok yes a dog is a dog no matter what breed, and to be fair Jack Russels are aggressive little trosuser biters who have small-man syndrome, but my point still stands - your dog is supervised in a field, hardly a risk to crowds of people or road traffic, but that rotty was a good 300m away from its owner who happened to be around the corner. What if somehting HAD happened she would have no control at that distance out of eye-sight, how long would it take her to run over 300m? Dog owners who take control of their dogs, on a lead or not, are not in question, its the ones who don't. Sorry but in this situation the dog owner was irresponsible end of.

[Baph]

You miserable spoilsport. The dog was having a fun time and you give yourself the power to halt it progress. It had not threatened nor was it a threat to you or anyone else.:rant:

Since when have you had the self appointed rights to do your local dog wardens job.;)

If you like the job so much, apply for it.:smt068


My little Jack Russell runs round on the fields without a lead. My son does not even own a lead for his Patterdale. The other day they had a wonderful time playing with two little kids (about 5 & 8 who ran upto them). Their parents were not bothered, the kids had no fear even when the dogs knocked them over. Granted the kids parents had two German shepherds with them.


Over protective parents instil an irrational fear of dogs in kids. Let the dogs/kids interact. Both benefit.

Tim, did you bother to even read either post I made in this thread?

I'm guessing not, so I'll repeat myself.

When I got out of the car, my thought was simply "loose dog, secure it & return it to it's home if possible because when it's owner finds out it's missing, no doubt there'll be panic."

The copper was considered because he'd have a better ability to trace the rightful owners than I would.

You say I "halted the dogs progress" and you're right, I did. Now, would you thank someone for returning your Jack Russell should it escape, or would you give them a slap for having the cheek to halt your dogs progress?

In case you haven't heard, there's been no jobs as a Dog Warden for years, you'll probably find that people like the RSPCA do this on a call-out basis these days.

Over protective parent? All the kids were in school, and in order to find that dogs owners (or at the very least leave the dog somewhere safe & secure) I'd of had to leave my child in school, who would of no doubt got upset wondering where I was.

If I'm such an over protective parent, whilst thinking I'm a dog warden, I suggest you read Shelly's thread in the BP section for my comments. That's not the first dog I've volunteered to come into our home for a short term if needed. We've also looked at getting a dog for the family quite a number of times.

Would you like to retract/amend your opinion?

[gruntygiggles]

I absolutely agree with Tim that dogs need to be given time and freedom to just be dogs, do dog things, sniff around etc. However, there is a time and place for this and public streets are not the place and school closing is not the time. Dogs should only be allowed to play and roam off lead in a safe place where they can't get hurt or hurt anyone else, whether intentional or not. Fields, parks etc are perfect for this, the streets are not.

Personally, the four dogs Stretchie and I have are walked on a lead for the 200 yards up the road to the fields and then they are off lead and free to do they're own thing. They follow us where we go and never go very far away, but we don't impose that on them, they just know to follow us, all the while sniffing, playing, jumping in puddles, chasing each other around etc.

When you have a dog though, any dog regardless of size, temperament, age, sex etc, you the owner are ultimately responsible for it. Now, that Rottie that Baph stopped was probably not going to do anyone any harm. BUT, Baph was right to stop the dog just wandering the streets. There are so many things that can happen that Baph may well have prevented.

As a final note, dogs are unpredictable...that cannot be disputed. The two dogs that killed the baby boy in South Wales last month had never shown any form of aggression before towards any child, adult or other dogs. For whatever reason, when the grandmother left the room, they attacked. We as humas will never be able to fully understand what triggers set dogs off, so surely we are better to use caution and prevent anything bad happening by controlling and making safe the times that we allow our dogs to run freely so that no harm can come to the dog or others.

[yorkie_chris]

Would you like to retract/amend your opinion?

Lol!!

[timwilky]

Baph

Read my opening post again and look at the winks and other smilies, I was attempting to be on my high horse a touch tongue in cheek. Obviously too high as it went over your head.

Dogs need lots of exercise, they need to run wild in open fields, not strolled on the pavement. I trust my dog but I would never let anybody (adult or child) near him unsupervised.

[Biker Biggles]

Hook line and sinker:)